Shit. Sadie was stupefied. They’d lost that many people?
She knew many members of the pack—especially those who were mated and had children—had left after Emory’d mated with Mary. As a Shepherd, Mary was considered an enemy of shifters the world over. It didn’t matter that the woman was nothing like her relatives. Her presence alone made the werewolves in Trey’s pack uneasy.
And now they have to deal with me.
“There’s another option.” She knew it was going to piss Trey off but she said, “We don’t have to tell them anything about me. You can give them enough information about Aldon and Leigh to get their support. That’s far more important.”
“Sadie, darlin’,” Trey growled and snagged her by the waist. “Shut the hell up.”
In another time or place, she might have been annoyed. It wasn’t everyday she let someone insult her. But she knew Trey wasn’t trying to be an asshole. She sensed his frustration. He wasn’t going to let her step down and take a place in the shadows. Moving forward meant doing the right thing by her.
He’d marked her. He’d claimed her. It was a done deal.
She caught herself before she lifted her hand to the scar on her neck. The healing process had started, mending the tissue. Everyone had noticed it. She’d tried not to blush or react to their stares but each time she’d seen someone gazing at it she instinctively tried to cover it.
Like now.
Everyone was staring at them, curious to see how the newly mated couple interacted.
“I’ll shut the hell up when you start thinking straight.” She snorted, trying to play it cool. “My way makes sense.”
“Your way,” he drawled in a raspy timbre, “ain’t happening.”
Sadie started to reply when Ava said, “Don’t bother arguing. They’re all Neanderthals.”
“Not me,” Kinsley remarked, thickening his accent. His gaze swept over the women in the room, a gleam in his emerald eyes. “I’m all charm.”
“Yo, Casanova,” Diskant snarled, eyes narrowed. “Put your ego in check. Get back on track.”
“Fine.” Kinsley shrugged and reclined in the oversized chair, nonchalant and seemingly unaffected at the annoyance in Diskant’s request. “My official opinion is you tell the pack about the mating and keep the rest to yourself. Otherwise you’ll cause panic. Work out a plan and track down Ava’s brother.” He lifted his eyes to Trey. “Aldon’s not an idiot. Eventually he’s going to come here. I suggest you move the girl you’re hiding and take her somewhere else. In the meantime I’ll talk to my eyes and ears in the area. They might be able to provide additional information. I’ll also speak to the pride Alphas and let them know they need to tighten security.”
“And if they ask questions?” Trey asked.
“Shepherds might have been quiet for a while but they’re not gone for good,” Kinsley said, menace creeping into his voice. “You let me worry about my people.”
Sadie tried to keep her reaction to Kinsley’s advice under wraps. Everything he offered made perfect sense but she didn’t want to think about sending Leigh away. How would Leigh react if she was placed in the company of strangers? And who in the world could keep her safe?
There wasn’t a coven Sadie trusted to do the job. Not anymore.
She inched closer to Trey, taking a small measure of comfort at his closeness. He seemed to understand, increasing the tightness of the arm around her midsection. Wasn’t it strange? A couple of days ago she’d almost died. She’d sworn she’d hate him for what he’d done. Then—before she could fully wrap her head around it—she’d found herself in his bed, accepting his mark and standing by his side.
Funny how things turned out.
Unbelievable.
“Whatever you say.” Diskant sounded incredibly tired. “I think I know of a place we can move our guest. I’ll have to make a few calls.”
“Nathan won’t let her leave without him,” Trey interjected quietly, soothing Sadie by breezing his lips over her temple. With her settled, he said, “That means the pack will have double the shit to deal with. They might be fine with kicking my ass out but they won’t want to lose Nathan. He’s the primary person they’ve all been able to trust.”
“Then tell them a simplified version of the truth,” Kinsley suggested. “They’ll understand if he’s found his mate and needs time away to initiate the union. You don’t have to tell them who or what his mate is. Not yet, anyway. Sometimes small truths are blessings in disguise. The issue is,” Kinsley broke his relaxed posture, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, “who can you trust to take Nathan’s place? You’ll need a Beta who can keep everyone calm.”
Silence followed, a heavy apprehension filling the air.
Trey shifted his feet, his body bumping Sadie’s. She reached out to him with her senses, telling herself she wasn’t going to intrude on his thoughts. She had to start trusting his reasoning and stop second-guessing things. Tension wafted from him, slamming into her in waves. He had an answer to the dilemma but something caused him to hesitate.
“Everyone knows Zach was next in line for the position,” Kinsley said softly. “It can’t hurt to ask him.”
“No.” Ava looked horrified. Diskant tried to enfold her in his arms but she shook him off. “He’s been through too much. You’ll push him over the edge.”
“It might be what he needs, Pinkie.” Diskant’s reprimand was gently given. “There’s a reason he didn’t follow Katie after she died.”
“Katie?” Sadie thought to Trey.
“Zach’s mate.” Even in her head she could feel Trey’s grief. “She was inside Dougan’s Bar when it exploded.”
Sadie’s heart bottomed out. Oh Goddess.
She’d been standing outside the bar when the explosion had taken place. At the time she’d been watching Trey as she usually did—hidden by shadows, aching for a man she could never have. He’d left with the pack to face zealots who’d threatened the city. Shepherds had planned an attack, deceiving the shifters. With many of the men gone, a lone man had entered the werewolf bar with a bomb strapped to his chest.
Ava and Nathan were the only two who made it out alive.
Sadie had come across them in an alley. After she’d killed the Shepherds who were ready to attack the fallen woman and shifter she’d come to their aid. It was then that Sadie had used her healing magic and blood to give Ava the strength she’d needed to live. Diskant had arrived shortly after and almost killed Sadie, mistaking her for the enemy. She’d managed to get away before the damage became lethal. He’d been so fierce, eager to rip her head from her shoulders.
“I thought you couldn’t survive without your mate.” Her knowledge wasn’t totally limited and she was almost certain shifters didn’t last long once they lost their partners. “How’s he still alive?”
“She was human. Zach hadn’t fully sealed their bloodbond.” There was something else he wanted to say. This time he spoke the thought aloud. “He’s determined to see every Shepherd dead. The pack is all he has. They could give him something else to live for. It might be what he needs to heal.”
“He’s been to hell and back but he’s not given up. I think he’s a solid choice,” Kinsley informed Trey. “But you’ll have to tell him everything. You can’t leave anything out.” Turning to Diskant, Kinsley kept going. “If you have a safe location for the other female I suggest you move her as soon as possible. There’s no need to add fuel to the fire. Get her out of the city and take Aldon out of the equation. Shepherds haven’t struck again yet but they will. This has to be sorted as quickly as possible.”